At 09:24 AM 1/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi everyone!
>My Dad was diagnosed in June with Parkinson's. He has a few questions he would like me to ask.
>#1 - He is taking Sinemet but he is not noticing a difference. They have changed his dosage twice but still there seems to be no difference. Any suggestions or thoughts?
>#2 - He has a very stressful job and is trying to get any information at all regarding the affects of stress on Parkinson's. Does anyone have any info?
>
Mya, if your dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's and he doesn't get a response from Sinemet, it could mean either of two things. He does not have Parkinson's, or he may have one of the Parkinson's Plus syndromes which do not respond to Sinemet. In either case....a second opinion by a movements disorder specialist is in order.
Tremor excaserbated by tension without ridgity or slowness of movement may indicate essential tremor....which can be minimized by proper medication. The two mainstays of essential tremor treatment are propranolol (Inderal) and primidone (Mysoline). Folks improperly diagnosed with Parkinson's have been known to have their tremor intensify when given parkinsonian medications.
There are two items available in the Current Topics messages which can enlighten one in the quandry of, "are my symptoms consistant with the diagnosis of Parkinson's or is my tremor essential tremor".
Doctors, Joseph Jankovic and Mark Stacy, examined the records of over 900 patients that had Parkinson's and Parkinson's Plus syndromes. In table 3 of that study, they outline what symptoms that may or may not be present and whether they were or were not responsive to Sinemet.
In order to receive that study send a message to:
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CT:091
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Marjorie Gillespie, wrote a definitive nursing article on the treatment of tremor and the differences among tremors.
In order to receive that article send a message to:
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On the subject line of the message put:
CT:094
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Mya, I wish you and your father well.
[log in to unmask] That man may last, but never lives,
Who much receives, but nothing gives;
HomeBoy #Parkinsons Whom none can love, whom none can thank,--
Creation's blot, creation's blank.
John Cottingham Thomas Gibbons (1720-1785): When Jesus dwelt.
